Electrical contact carrier for electrical circuit breakers

ABSTRACT

An electrical circuit breaker of the type including a movable carrier member for the electrical contacts thereof, which is slidably disposed within a circuit breaker housing and guided therein by means of elongated lateral guide members. The guide members are slidably disposed in guide slots provided in the housing and are mounted on opposing sides of the carrier member. The improvement comprises the provision of lateral guide members which are separable from the carrier member and an additional guide member mounted on a side surface of the carrier member between the lateral guide members, which is slidably disposed in an additional elongated slot in the circuit breaker housing.

United States Patent 1 3,870,980 Pollmann 1 Mar. 11, 1975 ELECTRICAL CONTACT CARRIER FOR 683.2l8 2/1965 ltuly 335/132 ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS Inventor: Fritz Penman, Amberg Germany Primary EXCIHIi/M'f-Hlll'OlLl Broome AI! A I, 'F -K & K R 11 [73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, f j f f m Hm finyon enyon u y 1 pm Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] App]. No.: 401,285

An electrical circuit breaker of the type including a movable carrier member for the electrical contacts [30] Forelgn Apphcatmn Pnomy Data thereof, which is slidably disposed within a circuit Sept. 29, 1972 Germany 2248029 breaker housing and guided therein by means of elQn. gated lateral guide members. The guide members are [52] US. Cl. 335/202, 335/262 slidably disposed in guide slots provided in the housing [51] Int. Cl. H01h 50/04 d are mounted on opposing sides of the carrier ld of Search 335/202, 132, 2 member. The improvement comprises the provision of 200/280 lateral guide members which are separable from the carrier member and an additional guide member References Clted mounted on a side surface of the carrier member be- UNITED STATES PATENTS tween the lateral guide members, which is slidably dis- 3,331,039 7/1967 McGary 335/202 Posed in an additional elongated Slot in the circuit b k h FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS er Ousmg 675,729 11/1964 It'aly 335/132 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Al7 A7 A7 PATENTEDHARI 5 3. 870.980

sumlg z Fig.1 r-" o 0 mm ELECTRICAL CONTACT CARRIER FOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to an electrical circuit breaker, and in particular, to an improved carrier member for the electrical contacts of an electromagnetic circuit breaker.

2. Description of the Prior Art Electrical circuit breakers including slidable carrier members for the electrical contacts thereof are generally known in the prior art. See, for example, German Auslegeschrift No. 1,000,490. Such carrier members generally include a pair of elongated, bar shaped projecting members attached to opposing sides thereof which are disposed in corresponding slots provided in the circuit breaker housing for guiding the carrier member therein. In order to increase the durability of such carrier members, and decrease wear during operation thereof, solid sections of metallic material have been molded into the carrier member, or, alternatively, into the circuit breaker housing. These metallic sections, however, substantially increase the weight of the circuit breaker, and complicate its fabrication. It is also known to construct at least one of the surfaces of the guide slots or guide members from a plastic material having a polyamide base in order to reduce wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art circuit breakers and provide an improved carrier member for the electrical contacts thereof.

The above object is achieved in an electrical circuit breaker of the type including a movable carrier member for the electrical contacts thereof which is slidably disposed within a circuit breaker housing and includes elongated lateral guide members mounted on opposing sides of the carrier member and disposed in guide slots provided in the housing, for guiding the carrier member therein. The improvement comprises the provision of an additional guide member mounted on a side surface of the carrier member between the lateral guide members and slidably disposed in an elongated slot provided in the housing for guiding the carrier member therein. The additional guide member provides further stabilization of the carrier member so that tilting thereof during opening and closing of the electrical contacts is prevented. The improvement further comprises the provision of lateral guide members which are separable from the carrier member. This feature permits the lateral guide members to be separably fabricated and construction of the carrier member is simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved electrical contact carrier member for an electrical circuit breaker constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a circuit breaker including a carrier member constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the circuit breaker taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a lateral guide member for a carrier member constructed according to the inventron;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the guide member of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the guide member; and FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, an improved carrier member for an electrical circuit breaker, in particular, an electromagnetic circuit breaker, comprises a generally rectangular shaped carrier member 1 having a recess 2 opening on one side thereof for receiving a switching magnet assembly 3, and upwardly extending receptacle members 4 in which the electrical contacts 5 of the circuit breaker are disposed. Lateral guide members 9 are guided in circuit breaker housing guide slots 26 and are disposed on opposing sides of carrier member 1 and are separable therefrom. The opposing sides of the carrier member include elongated, rectangular shaped recesses 11, disposed transverse to the direction of motion of the carrier member, which receive similar shaped projection members 10 formed on the inner side surfaces of guide members 9. The transverse disposition of members 10 and recesses 11 insures that the guide members are immovably secured within the carrier member during motion thereof. Axially disposed cylindrical shaped recesses 12 are provided in each guide member and open at the lower end there-of for receiving return springs 13. An additional guide member 7 is disposed on the carrier member on a side surface 6 thereof joining the opposing sides on which guide members 9 are disposed. Guide member 7 is disposed in an additional elongated guide slot 8 provided in the circuit breaker housing.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 the electromagnetic circuit breaker comprises a three part housing 14a, 14b, and 140. The housing accomodates a nonswitching magnet assembly 15, including coils 15a which, in conjunction with switching magnet assembly 3 in carrier member 1 causes the displacement of carrier member I when coils 15a are energized. Stationary contacts 16 engage movable contacts 5 when the circuit breaker coils are energized and permit electrical power to flow between electrical terminals 16a. An arc quenching arrangement 17 is provided in the known manner and is also displaced by the carrier member. A coupling latch 18, comprising an elongated rectangular shaped rod, is disposed in the circuit breaker housing transverse to switching magnet assembly 3 andincludes a bend 19 which is disposed in a corresponding opening in carrier member 1 and secures the coupling latch in the magnet assembly. Latch 18 is secured in carrier member 1 by means of apertures 20 provided in guide members 9 in which the ends of the latch are disposed. Projecting members 21 are integrally formed within apertures 20 and are received in corresponding recesses provided in the ends of latch 18 for securely holding the latch in the guide members. inwardly directed coupling recesses 22 are also provided in guide members 9 for receiving an actuating member 23 of at least one additional carrier member 24. The actuating member 23 is disposed through a slot 25 provided in the circuit breaker housing which is disposed adjacent guide slots 26 in which guide members 9 are disposed. Upwardly extending support members 27 are disposed in the housing below guide members 9 for securing springs 13 therein.

Guide members 7 and 9 provide a carrier member having significant advantages over conventional circuit breakers. Apertures 20 and 22, for example, cause significant weight reduction of the carrier member. Recesses 12 for return springs 13 protect the springs from damage and laterally support them. Guide members 9 may also be fabricated with guide surfaces 9a disposed along the entire axial length of the side surfaces thereof, since the members are fabricated separately and the mold for the guide members can be separated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof. Also, since the guide members are separable from the carrier member, apertures for receiving coupling members of other carrier members can easily be provided therein. This feature permits several carrier members to be coupled together in the circuit breaker housing. The latch disposed in the carrier member also insures that the switching assembly is securely held therein and is restrained from twisting movement. Furthermore, if the guide members are constructed so as to extend downwardly beyond the switching magnet assembly of the carrier member, the center of gravity thereof may be moved downwardly so as to further prevent tilting of the carrier member within the circuit breaker housing and the resultant abrasive wear caused thereby.

While there have been disclosed herein what are considered at present to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto. It is therefore intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: t

1. In an electrical circuit breaker, of the type including a movable carrier member for the electrical contacts thereof which is slidably disposed within a circuit breaker housing and includes elongated lateral guide members mounted on opposing sides of the carrier member, and disposed in guide slots provided in the housing, for guiding the carrier member therein, the improvement comprising, an additional guide member, disposed on a side surface of said carrier member joining said opposing sides between said lateral guide members, said circuit breaker housing including an additional guide slot for receiving said additional guide member and guiding said carrier member therein.

2. The circuit breaker recited in claim 1, wherein said lateral guide members are separable from said carrier member and include outwardly extending projection members disposed on the inner surface thereof transverse to the longitudinal axis of said guide members, said carrier member further comprising elongated recesses disposed in said opposing surfaces thereof for receiving said projection members.

3. The circuit breaker recited in claim 2, wherein said lateral guide members further comprise axially disposed recesses opening at the lower end thereof for receiving return springs for said carrier member.

4. The'circuit breaker recited in claim 3, wherein said circuit breaker includes at least one additional carrier member including an actuating member coupled thereto, and wherein said lateral guide members further comprise inwardly directed coupling recesses for receiving said actuating members.

5. The circuit breaker recited in claim 4, wherein the circuit breaker is an electro-magnetic circuit breaker and said carrier member further comprises a switching magnet assembly disposed therein and a transverse latch for securing said assembly in said carrier member, and wherein said lateral guide members include apertures for receiving the ends of said latch for securing said switching assembly thereto. 

1. In an electrical circuit breaker, of the type including a movable carrier member for the electrical contacts thereof which is slidably disposed within a circuit breaker housing and includes elongated lateral guide members mounted on opposing sides of the carrier member, and disposed in guide slots provided in the housing, for guiding the carrier member therein, the improvement comprising, an additional guide member, disposed on a side surface of said carrier member joining said opposing sides between said lateral guide members, said circuit breaker housing including an additional guide slot for receiving said additional guide member and guiding said carrier member therein.
 1. In an electrical circuit breaker, of the type including a movable carrier member for the electrical contacts thereof which is slidably disposed within a circuit breaker housing and includes elongated lateral guide members mounted on opposing sides of the carrier member, and disposed in guide slots provided in the housing, for guiding the carrier member therein, the improvement comprising, an additional guide member, disposed on a side surface of said carrier member joining said opposing sides between said lateral guide members, said circuit breaker housing including an additional guide slot for receiving said additional guide member and guiding said carrier member therein.
 2. The circuit breaker recited in claim 1, wherein said lateral guide members are separable from said carrier member and include outwardly extending projection members disposed on the inner surface thereof transverse to the longitudinal axis of said guide members, said carrier member further comprising elongated recesses disposed in said opposing surfaces thereof for receiving said projection members.
 3. The circuit breaker recited in claim 2, wherein said lateral guide members further comprise axially disposed recesses opening at the lower end thereof for receiving return springs for said carrier member.
 4. The circuit breaker recited in claim 3, wherein said circuit breaker includes at least one additional carrier member including an actuating member coupled thereto, and wherein said lateral guide members further comprise inwardly directed coupling recesses for receiving said actuating members. 